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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CAMBODIA – Coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh: “An important step for the Catholic Church in Cambodia”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Catholic Church Cambodia

    Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) – In 1975, the young Cambodian priest Joseph Chmar Salas was appointed coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh by Pope Paul VI. He was the first Cambodian bishop in history. Cambodia and the Cambodian people were experiencing the darkest period in their history at that time: Chmar Salas became one of the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime and died in 1977 in Tangkok, far from his Vicariate. In the 1990s, after this sad period, marked by death and suffering, when religious freedom was reinstated in the country, the Holy See entrusted the local Church to the priests of the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP). The Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh was initially Yves Ramousse (MEP), then Émile Destombes (MEP) (since 2001), and finally, since 2010, the current Vicar, Olivier Schmitthaeusler. On June 28, 2025, fifty years after the appointment of the first Cambodian bishop, history repeated itself: Cambodian priest Pierre Suon Hang Ly was appointed Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh. The current Vicar, Bishop Schmitthaeusler, told Fides: “Leo XIV has given the Church of Cambodia a great gift by appointing a Cambodian as Coadjutor of the Vicariate of Phnom Penh. Priests, religious, and all the communities are full of joy and happiness and warmly welcome Pierre Suon Hang Ly to Phnom Penh.” “This is a very important step for the Catholic Church in Cambodia,” Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler continued. “I have been asking the Holy See for this for some time. Now the time is ripe.” “The appointment of a Cambodian Apostolic Vicar is a sign of the maturity of our local Church and a strong signal to root the small Catholic Church even more deeply in the society, culture, and life of the country,” he continues. “As for me, I will continue my service as Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh for some time, flanked by Bishop Ly. Together, as brothers in the episcopate, as successors of the Apostles, we will now be the shepherds of this part of the People of God, serving the Church with love, but also with greater readiness and renewed dynamism to proclaim the Good News in all parts of the Vicariate.” “We will be on this journey together with our brother priests, our seminarians, all religious orders, diocesan offices, parishes, Catholic NGOs, and lay missionaries,” assures Bishop Schmitthaeusler, who invokes the protection of the Virgin Mary: “We entrust ourselves to Our Lady of the Mekong to guide us in our mission during this Holy Year of Hope. Let us pray for one another in this historic moment for our Catholic Church in Cambodia.” And he concludes: “We thank the Lord for the presence of Bishop Ly as Coadjutor of the Vicariate, and we thank him for having accepted this new task of serving the People of God in Phnom Penh with trust and dedication. Bishop Ly already knows the Vicariate of Phnom Penh very well, with its diversity, its dynamism, and its challenges in this new society that is being built”. Pierre Suon Hang Ly was born on April 15, 1972, in Pho Thom, the hometown of Bishop Joseph Chmar Salas. He attended the major seminary first in Battambang and then in Phnom Penh. He was ordained a priest on December 9, 2001. From 2002 to 2007, he he carried out pastoral service in Kampot and Takeo, and then studied at the Catholic Institute in Paris until 2015. Upon his return to Phnom Penh, he was appointed parish priest of the new pastoral unit of Thmey and Vicar General. In July 2022, he was appointed Apostolic Prefect of Kompong Cham, a position he has held so far. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 30/5/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Helping the MOD and the defence industry navigate the single source regulatory framework for key supply-chain contracts

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Helping the MOD and the defence industry navigate the single source regulatory framework for key supply-chain contracts

    The SSRO has published new guidance that will help all stakeholders identify and apply the regulatory framework for single source defence contracts to qualifying sub-contracts.

    Following consultation with stakeholders, the SSRO has published new guidance on how the regulatory framework for single source defence contracts applies to qualifying sub-contracts (QSCs). QSCs account for around one in six of all qualifying contracts under the regulatory framework and have a combined value of more than £8.2 billion.

    The new guidance summarises the relevant parts of the regulatory framework and provides signposting to existing SSRO guidance, for example, on pricing and reporting.

    The SSRO’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Jo Watts, said:

    “This new guidance follows a request from industry for a consolidated summary of the complex regulations related to QSCs. The guidance has been informed by the questions we are commonly asked about QSCs and takes account of the feedback received from stakeholders during our consultation. Based on the positive feedback we had from stakeholders, we are confident the new guidance will help the MOD, contractors and sub-contractors better understand their respective rights and obligations in relation to QSCs.”

    The SSRO has also published a summary of the feedback it received during its consultation and how it has responded to this in preparing the new guidance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – “Let us continue the dialogue with young people instead of blaming the bishops”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We want to ask everybody — the government, the leaders, and the political spheres — to look at the fact that we are taking care of the dignity of the young people,”said Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo of Nairobi yesterday, Sunday, June 29, in a statement regarding the accusations made by the Minister of the Interior Kipchumba Murkomen against Catholic and non-Catholic religious leaders, whom the minister accuses of siding with the “anarchists” and failing to condemn the violence during the “Generation Z” protests on June 25 in memory of the victims of last year’s demonstrations against the Finance Bill (see Fides, 21, 25 and 26 June 2024).At least 16 people were killed in clashes with police during this year’s protests (see Fides, 26/6/2025). In his statement, the Archbishop of Nairobi emphasized that the Church cares about the lives of all people: “Life is never to be sacrificed for anything else, but to be given the future, for the prosperity of the nation and for the prosperity of human beings.”Archbishop Anyolo therefore reiterated his call to listen to young people: “we have to agree — all of us together — the leaders in government, the church, and the parents, all of us who take care of the young people, we need to listen to them and understand them and help them grow and mature”.Members of the Anglican Church also responded to the Minister of the Interior. “Give top priority to the economic well-being of the people. The cost of living is unbearable for many families. Young people are unemployed. Parents cannot pay school fees. Businesses are struggling. These are not just statistics; they are stories of real suffering. Government must listen, act, and respond quickly,” emphasized the Anglican Bishop of Nyahururu, Samson Gachathi.”I know that there will be no bishop or church member, neither Catholic nor Anglican, who will come out to defend the police. Nobody will speak about how the police were injured,”the Minister of the Interior declared, reiterating that nine police stations were attacked, five of which were set on fire. Dozens of police, government, and civilian vehicles were also damaged. The Ministry of Agriculture also claimed that more than 7,354 bags of fertilizer worth approximately $230,000 were stolen from a national warehouse in Meru County, about 200 kilometers east of Nairobi, taking advantage of the chaos of the demonstrations that turned violent. The theft was described by Kenyan authorities as a “direct attack on Kenya’s food security.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – “Let us continue the dialogue with young people instead of blaming the bishops”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We want to ask everybody — the government, the leaders, and the political spheres — to look at the fact that we are taking care of the dignity of the young people,”said Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo of Nairobi yesterday, Sunday, June 29, in a statement regarding the accusations made by the Minister of the Interior Kipchumba Murkomen against Catholic and non-Catholic religious leaders, whom the minister accuses of siding with the “anarchists” and failing to condemn the violence during the “Generation Z” protests on June 25 in memory of the victims of last year’s demonstrations against the Finance Bill (see Fides, 21, 25 and 26 June 2024).At least 16 people were killed in clashes with police during this year’s protests (see Fides, 26/6/2025). In his statement, the Archbishop of Nairobi emphasized that the Church cares about the lives of all people: “Life is never to be sacrificed for anything else, but to be given the future, for the prosperity of the nation and for the prosperity of human beings.”Archbishop Anyolo therefore reiterated his call to listen to young people: “we have to agree — all of us together — the leaders in government, the church, and the parents, all of us who take care of the young people, we need to listen to them and understand them and help them grow and mature”.Members of the Anglican Church also responded to the Minister of the Interior. “Give top priority to the economic well-being of the people. The cost of living is unbearable for many families. Young people are unemployed. Parents cannot pay school fees. Businesses are struggling. These are not just statistics; they are stories of real suffering. Government must listen, act, and respond quickly,” emphasized the Anglican Bishop of Nyahururu, Samson Gachathi.”I know that there will be no bishop or church member, neither Catholic nor Anglican, who will come out to defend the police. Nobody will speak about how the police were injured,”the Minister of the Interior declared, reiterating that nine police stations were attacked, five of which were set on fire. Dozens of police, government, and civilian vehicles were also damaged. The Ministry of Agriculture also claimed that more than 7,354 bags of fertilizer worth approximately $230,000 were stolen from a national warehouse in Meru County, about 200 kilometers east of Nairobi, taking advantage of the chaos of the demonstrations that turned violent. The theft was described by Kenyan authorities as a “direct attack on Kenya’s food security.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – The People of God in China accompany the priests in their “Jubilee of Hope”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 30 June 2025

    xinde.org

    Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – With a 24-hour Eucharistic adoration and prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Chinese Catholics celebrated the days before and after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the spirit of popular piety, accompanying Chinese seminarians, bishops, and priests from June 25 to 27, in communion with Pope Leo XIV and the universal Church, during their Jubilee of Hope. In the Cathedral of the Diocese of Wenzhou, Eucharistic adoration began at 8 p.m. on June 26 and ended at 8 p.m. on June 27. The faithful were invited to pray especially for the “sanctification of priests.” The seminarians and priests themselves also addressed their prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking for the gifts of health, holiness, and the practice of Christian virtues. Eucharistic adoration was characterized by the recitation of the Rosary, listening to the Word of God, and sacred music. At the end of each hour, the prayer intentions for the sanctification of priests, at service of the mission of the Church, were recalled. The practice of Eucharistic adoration reminds everyone that only through the gift of the Eucharist do priests and lay people move forward each day with the request to experience the miracle of their own holiness and the holiness of others in their daily lives.In the Diocese of Taiyuan, Bishop Paul Meng Ningyou ordained two new priests on Saturday, June 28, on the occasion of the Jubilee. Bishop Meng recommended that they proclaim the Gospel, live it, and be an example to the faithful, as well as to ask for their own sanctification in light of Christ’s teachings, administer the sacraments, and be active in serving the faithful, and live their priesthood joyfully and in communion with the bishop.From June 23 to 26, priests from the Diocese of Sanyuan in the Chinese province of Shaanxi gathered to reflect on the “communal journey of the Holy Year” on the occasion of the Jubilee of Priests. During the four days of formation and sharing, the priests of the Diocese of Sanyuan meditated on their priestly ministry and the daily obligations of their pastoral experience in light of the testimonies and teachings of Saints and the Fathers of the Church. The four days spent together were a precious opportunity to renew their missionary zeal and continue their journey of conversion. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/VIETNAM – Forty new priests in Vietnam during the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 30 June 2025

    Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh city

    Ho Chi Minh City (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church in Vietnam continues to flourish in priestly vocations. In June 2025, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and traditionally reserved for priestly ordinations, forty new priests were ordained, a precious gift for the Vietnamese Church: six in the Diocese of Da Nang, thirteen in the Diocese of Can Tho, in the Mekong Delta, and twenty-one in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City.The Diocese of Da Nang joyfully welcomed six new priests, “consecrated to be each an Alter Christus, to become pastors of the People of God, not to live for themselves, but to be all things to all people,” said Monsignor Joseph Dang Duc Ngan, Archbishop of Hue and Apostolic Administrator of Da Nang, during the solemn ordination of six priests, celebrated on June 24 in Da Nang Cathedral, attended by numerous faithful. Referring to the life of Saint John the Baptist, the Prelate recalled: “A priest does not become perfect from the day of his ordination. The priesthood is a journey of daily growth in Christ and constant strengthening in the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission of God and the Church with joy and true love.” The following day, June 25, in Soc Trang Cathedral, Diocese of Can Tho, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi presided over the ordination of thirteen new priests. During the celebration, the bishop invited the community “to unite in prayer and accompany the new priests, so that they may always lead a life faithful to their pastoral identity: humble, holy, and dedicated to the flock.”On June 27, 2025, the Day of the Sanctification of the Priesthood, the diocese of Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the ordination of twenty-one new priests. In his homily, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of the archdiocese, emphasized: “The priest is not like a robot of the modern age. The priest, in his ministry, takes God’s will seriously so that, in every action – liturgical, pastoral, and charitable – he may transmit the Good News.”At the Shrine of Our Lady of Bai Dau, in the Diocese of Ba Ria, Bishop Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son presented six seminarians who received diaconal ordination during the Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (AD/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Discurso del Presidente António Costa en el evento especial ‘Plataforma de Acción de Sevilla’ de la 4ᵃ Conferencia Internacional sobre Financiación para el Desarrollo (FFD4)

    Source: Council of the European Union

    El presidente del Consejo Europeo, António Costa, viajó a Sevilla y pronunció un discurso en el evento especial ‘Plataforma de Acción de Sevilla’ de la Cuarta Conferencia Internacional sobre la Financiación para el Desarrollo (FFD4) el 30 de junio de 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 8-9 May 2025, a core team from the DPR Korea Ministry of Public Health participated in a two-day virtual workshop. The workshop included a mini-simulation exercise and was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO Headquarters and the WHO Country Office for DPR Korea.  

    Adapted from WHO’s Exercise panPRET-1, the simulation focused on a fictional influenza outbreak to test national systems for surveillance, risk assessment and response coordination. The exercise highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in DPR Korea’s preparedness planning. 

    Key outcomes of this exercise included: 

    • a trained cadre of national facilitators ready to lead future simulation exercises; and 
    • a roadmap for revising the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) to include respiratory pathogens. 

    Building on the experience from an in-person regional simulation exercise held in 2024, this event highlighted the value of knowledge sharing and developing practical skills through virtual engagement to build a sustainable, country-led response.  

    The existing NIPPP was updated in 2019, with the inputs from in-country workshop supported by experts from all levels of WHO. Looking ahead, DPR Korea plans to conduct a national multisectoral workshop and simulation exercise later in 2025, led by newly trained facilitators. These efforts will directly support the ongoing revision of the current NIPPP into broader PRET based plan and contribute to stronger national health security.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 8-9 May 2025, a core team from the DPR Korea Ministry of Public Health participated in a two-day virtual workshop. The workshop included a mini-simulation exercise and was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO Headquarters and the WHO Country Office for DPR Korea.  

    Adapted from WHO’s Exercise panPRET-1, the simulation focused on a fictional influenza outbreak to test national systems for surveillance, risk assessment and response coordination. The exercise highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in DPR Korea’s preparedness planning. 

    Key outcomes of this exercise included: 

    • a trained cadre of national facilitators ready to lead future simulation exercises; and 
    • a roadmap for revising the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) to include respiratory pathogens. 

    Building on the experience from an in-person regional simulation exercise held in 2024, this event highlighted the value of knowledge sharing and developing practical skills through virtual engagement to build a sustainable, country-led response.  

    The existing NIPPP was updated in 2019, with the inputs from in-country workshop supported by experts from all levels of WHO. Looking ahead, DPR Korea plans to conduct a national multisectoral workshop and simulation exercise later in 2025, led by newly trained facilitators. These efforts will directly support the ongoing revision of the current NIPPP into broader PRET based plan and contribute to stronger national health security.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth: RBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite an uncertain and challenging global economic backdrop, the Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth, underpinned by sound macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent macroeconomic policies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday.

    The Reserve Bank, in the June 2025 issue of its ‘Financial Stability Report (FSR)’, said that elevated economic and trade policy uncertainties are testing the resilience of the global economy and the financial system.

    “Financial markets remain volatile, especially core government bond markets, driven by shifting policy and geopolitical environment. Alongside, existing vulnerabilities such as soaring public debt levels and elevated asset valuations have the potential to amplify fresh shocks,” it read.

    However, the domestic financial system is exhibiting resilience fortified by healthy balance sheets of banks and non-banks, said the RBI.

    Financial conditions have eased supported by accommodative monetary policy and low volatility in financial markets. The strength of the corporate balance sheets also lends support to overall macroeconomic stability.

    “The soundness and resilience of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) are bolstered by robust capital buffers, multi-decadal low non-performing loans ratio and strong earnings,” the RBI report mentioned.

    Results of macro stress tests affirm that most SCBs have adequate capital buffers relative to the regulatory minimum even under adverse stress scenarios. Stress tests also validate the resilience of mutual funds and clearing corporations.

    “Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) remain healthy with sizable capital buffers, robust earnings and improving asset quality. The consolidated solvency ratio of the insurance sector also remains above the minimum threshold limit,” it noted.

    In this global milieu, the Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth. Growth momentum is buoyed by strong domestic growth drivers, sound macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent policies.

    “Nonetheless, external spillovers and weather-related events could pose downside risks to growth. The outlook for inflation, on the other hand, is benign and there is greater confidence in the durable alignment of inflation with the Reserve Bank’s target,” said RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

    Financial sector regulators remain committed to protecting customers, promoting competition and fostering innovation as they strike the right balance between improving efficiency and growth, and safety and soundness.

    “Financial stability, like price stability, is a necessary condition, and not a sufficient one to boost India’s potential growth. As custodians of financial stability, we must endeavour to develop a well-functioning financial system that not only promotes macroeconomic stability but also provides financial services efficiently,” said Malhotra.

    (IANS)

  • NATO fund backs biotech startup in push to counter biological threats

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The NATO Innovation Fund has made its first investment in a biotechnology company, it said on Monday, seeking to enhance defences against biological threats

    The fund is co-leading a $35 million fundraising round for Portal Biotech, which uses protein sequencing to detect engineered threats and defend against biological warfare.

    UK-based Portal Biotech’s capability is essential for biosecurity defence and security, said Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, senior associate at NATO Innovation Fund.

    “We believe that it is absolutely imperative that we are able to detect, monitor and create countermeasures,” she said.

    The fund, created in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, plans to invest more than $1 billion in technologies that would enhance NATO’s defences.

    Portal Biotech uses an AI-backed technology with biological sensors that can work at the single molecule level on-site, giving results within hours.

    “It’s for everything from measuring diseases to better pandemic prevention … you can take this out of large labs with long turnaround times and into the field,” CEO Andy Heron told Reuters.

    Heron said the company’s instruments can detect any pathogen and can be used for continuous monitoring of anything from a field to water supply.

    “It allows you not just to detect what you did know was out there, but it allows you to detect what you didn’t know,” he said.

    Beyond biosecurity, Portal Biotech expects its portable equipment to aid in drug discovery and precision medicine.

    The company’s investors include Earlybird Venture Capital, Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, We VC and British Business Bank.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Overcoming Engineering Challenges Was No Problem for This Student Team

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Senior Design Demonstration Day is a pivotal day for graduating UConn Engineering students. It is where students can show the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their time at UConn through practical, real-world engineering applications.

    ME04 Senior Design Team (from left to right) Noah Hyman, Ian Pichs, Aldin Sabovic, Christopher Capozzi, and James Arnold. (UConn Photo)

    One specific team was tasked with designing, building, and testing an unmanned electric hydroplane, with the end goal being to compete in ASNE’s 2025 Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) Competition. The objective of the competition included completing a 2-mile-long course at a minimum speed of 10 MPH, along with optimizing the boat for a payload of at least 30 pounds.

    The joint team consisted of students from the mechanical engineering department and the electrical and computer engineering department and was sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), aided by ASNE advisor Michael Briscoe.

    ECE 13 senior design team (from left to right) Xingyu Qiu, Joshua Colon, and Thomas Clark. (UConn Photo)

    ME04 was comprised of students, Noah Hyman, Ian Pichs, Aldin Sabovic, Christopher Capozzi, and James Arnold and was advised by faculty Chang Liu. ECE13 included students Xingyu Qiu, Joshua Colon, and Thomas Clark and was advised by faculty Ashwin Dani.

    “This senior design project gave me hands-on experience solving real-world engineering challenges through teamwork and collaboration,” said Arnold. “I was also able to forge valuable connections with industry professionals.”

    Arnold was able to strengthen these connections, and recently received a post-grad offer of employment from General Dynamics Electric Boat. He’ll work as a systems engineer in the overhaul and repair engineering department.

    The team said they were excited to take on this challenge. After reviewing where the 2023-2024 year’s team experienced difficulties, the team evaluated new propulsion systems and hull designs. They also researched batteries, motors, and cooling systems to mitigate various points of failure.

    “A major part of this project included working with underclassmen,” said Pichs. “We were able to pass down our knowledge about electric propulsion systems, hull design, and nautical operational systems to them.”

    When it came time to design their boat, the team opted for a J-class racing hydroplane, focusing on robustness to help ensure they completed the course. They chose a battery with increased capacity to account for added weight and suboptimal surface conditions, along with a higher performing motor. The cooling system they designed was minimal, helping to reduce points of failure or leakage.

    As the team was gearing up for the April competition, they ran into some issues, mainly the weather. With inclement weather taking over New England, the team was only able to complete two full-system tests prior to leaving for the competition down in Virginia Beach.

    During one of their tests, water intruded into the hull, shorting one of the most critical electrical components in the boat, the electronic speed controller (ESC). With limited time, the team needed to act fast and source a replacement.

    Just one day before leaving, they secured a less powerful, air-cooled ESC.

    The team unloading their unmanned electric hydroplane for the ASNE Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition. (Contributed photo.)

    During the qualifying lap for the competition, the team faced even more problems. They struggled to see the motor’s steering direction and the replacement ESC overheated due to increased load on the boat.

    While the team qualified for the race, they had some serious issues to address prior to race day.

    The team regrouped and put their heads together to come up with fast, innovative solutions.

    To address their lack of visibility when steering the boat, the team opted to tape color-coded cardboard fins to either side of the motor. This allowed the team to easily see the steering direction.

    The overheating of the new ESC posed a larger, more complex issue. Realizing that traditional air- or water-cooling could lead to further water damage inside the electronics bay, the team came up with an innovative solution… dry ice. The team realized they could pack the dry box with dry ice for cooling and silica powder to control moisture buildup.

    The students split up into two teams; the first team addressed the steering issue, installing the color-coded fins to the motor; the second team sourced the dry ice they needed to pack the dry box with.

    “Working on this project opened my eyes to how important it is to not give up when something goes wrong,” said Hyman, who is also now employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat. “There are always different ways to solve a problem.”

    With both teams completing their tasks, the team was able to launch their boat at the start of the competition. Albeit, anxiously waiting to see if the quick fixes would hold up for the duration of the 2-mile course.

    The team’s innovative and quick-thinking solutions paid off. They completed the course in 34 minutes, maintaining over 80% of the boat’s battery capacity, despite having a 60-lb payload.

    “As Vice President of the Electric Boat Club, it was incredibly rewarding to see our team push through setbacks with creative solutions,” said Capozzi. “Whether it was sourcing parts last minute or coming up with dry ice cooling the night before the race, we proved what hands-on engineering and teamwork looks like at UConn.”

    While they weren’t the fastest in the competition, the team left proud of their accomplishment and honored to represent UConn Engineering.

    The ECE team placed first among the department’s teams in the Senior Design Demonstration Day student competition.

    Post-Graduation Plans

    The Senior Design program fosters and rewards student development. The process starts by working with a potential employer. Students are exposed to products, engineering practices, and the company sponsor’s culture, allowing them to assess their potential fit in the workplace. By having real-world engineer responsibilities for two semesters, students improve their marketability in the workforce. They demonstrate their success on Senior Design Day, graduate, and then leave UConn ready to serve as fully-qualified engineers.

    Hyman and Arnold are now working at General Dynamic Electric Boat. Colon now works at Siemens as a building automation controls system specialist. Capozzi said he is exploring job opportunities in design and manufacturing in the naval and aerospace industries. Pichs, Sabovic, Qiu, and Clark were unavailable for a comment about their post-graduation plans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Joint Statement from CISA, FBI, DC3 and NSA on Potential Targeted Cyber Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure by Iran

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Iranian state-sponsored or affiliated threat actors are known to conduct a range of targeted cyber activity to include exploit known vulnerabilities in unpatched or outdated software, compromise internet-connected accounts and devices that use default or weak passwords and work with ransomware affiliates to encrypt, steal and leak sensitive information.

    At this time, we have not seen indications of a coordinated campaign of malicious cyber activity in the U.S. that can be attributed to Iran. However, we are urging critical infrastructure organizations to stay vigilant to Iranian-affiliated cyber actors that may target U.S. devices and networks. We strongly urge organizations to review our joint fact sheet and implement recommended actions to strengthen our collective defense against this potential cyber activity.

     The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) and the National Security Agency (NSA) are actively monitoring and coordinating with government, industry, and international partners to identify and share actionable intelligence and provide resources and assistance. We also strongly urge organizations report suspicious or criminal activity related to potential Iranian cyber activity.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The path to medical superintelligence

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The path to medical superintelligence

    The Microsoft AI team shares research that demonstrates how AI can sequentially investigate and solve medicine’s most complex diagnostic challenges—cases that expert physicians struggle to answer.

    Benchmarked against real-world case records published each week in the New England Journal of Medicine, we show that the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) correctly diagnoses up to 85% of NEJM case proceedings, a rate more than four times higher than a group of experienced physicians. MAI-DxO also gets to the correct diagnosis more cost-effectively than physicians.

    —

    As demand for healthcare continues to grow, costs are rising at an unsustainable pace, and billions of people face multiple barriers to better health – including inaccurate and delayed diagnoses. Increasingly, people are turning to digital tools for medical advice and support. Across Microsoft’s AI consumer products like Bing and Copilot, we see over 50 million health-related sessions every day. From a first-time knee-pain query to a late-night search for an urgent-care clinic, search engines and AI companions are quickly becoming the new front line in healthcare.

    We want to do more to help -and believe generative AI can be transformational. That’s why, at the end of 2024, we launched a dedicated consumer health effort at Microsoft AI, led by clinicians, designers, engineers, and AI scientists. This effort complements Microsoft’s broader health initiatives and builds on our longstanding commitment to partnership and innovation. Existing solutions include RAD-DINO which helps accelerate and improve radiology workflows and Microsoft Dragon Copilot, our pioneering voice-first AI assistant for clinicians.

    For AI to make a difference, clinicians and patients alike must be able to trust its performance. That’s where our new benchmarks and AI orchestrator come in.

    Medical Case Challenges and Benchmarks

    To practice medicine in the United States, physicians need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a rigorous and standardized assessment of clinical knowledge and decision making. USMLE questions were among the earliest benchmarks used to evaluate AI systems in medicine, offering a structured way to compare model performance – both against each other and against human clinicians.

    In just three years, generative AI has advanced to the point of scoring near-perfect scores on the USMLE and similar exams. But these tests primarily rely on multiple-choice questions, which favor memorization over deep understanding. By reducing medicine to one-shot answers on multiple-choice questions, such benchmarks overstate the apparent competence of AI systems and obscure their limitations.

    At Microsoft AI, we’re working to advance and evaluate clinical reasoning capabilities. To move beyond the limitations of multiple-choice questions, we’ve focused on sequential diagnosis, a cornerstone of real-world medical decision making.  In this process, a clinician begins with an initial patient presentation and then iteratively selects questions and diagnostic tests to arrive at a final diagnosis. For example, a patient presenting with cough and fever may lead the clinician to order and review blood tests and a chest X-ray before they feel confident about diagnosing pneumonia.

    Each week, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – one of the world’s leading medical journals – publishes a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, presenting a patient’s care journey in a detailed, narrative format. These cases are among the most diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding in clinical medicine, often requiring multiple specialists and diagnostic tests to reach a definitive diagnosis.

    How does AI perform? To answer this, we created interactive case challenges drawn from the NEJM case series – what we call the Sequential Diagnosis Benchmark (SD Bench). This benchmark transforms 304 recent NEJM cases into stepwise diagnostic encounters where models – or human physicians – can iteratively ask questions and order tests. As new information becomes available, the model or clinician updates their reasoning, gradually narrowing toward a final diagnosis. This diagnosis can then be compared to the gold-standard outcome published in the NEJM.

    Each requested investigation also incurs a (virtual) cost, reflecting real-world healthcare expenditures. This allows us to evaluate performance across two key dimensions: diagnostic accuracy and resource expenditure.  You can watch how an AI system progresses through one of these challenges in this short video.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The path to medical superintelligence

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The path to medical superintelligence

    The Microsoft AI team shares research that demonstrates how AI can sequentially investigate and solve medicine’s most complex diagnostic challenges—cases that expert physicians struggle to answer.

    Benchmarked against real-world case records published each week in the New England Journal of Medicine, we show that the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) correctly diagnoses up to 85% of NEJM case proceedings, a rate more than four times higher than a group of experienced physicians. MAI-DxO also gets to the correct diagnosis more cost-effectively than physicians.

    —

    As demand for healthcare continues to grow, costs are rising at an unsustainable pace, and billions of people face multiple barriers to better health – including inaccurate and delayed diagnoses. Increasingly, people are turning to digital tools for medical advice and support. Across Microsoft’s AI consumer products like Bing and Copilot, we see over 50 million health-related sessions every day. From a first-time knee-pain query to a late-night search for an urgent-care clinic, search engines and AI companions are quickly becoming the new front line in healthcare.

    We want to do more to help -and believe generative AI can be transformational. That’s why, at the end of 2024, we launched a dedicated consumer health effort at Microsoft AI, led by clinicians, designers, engineers, and AI scientists. This effort complements Microsoft’s broader health initiatives and builds on our longstanding commitment to partnership and innovation. Existing solutions include RAD-DINO which helps accelerate and improve radiology workflows and Microsoft Dragon Copilot, our pioneering voice-first AI assistant for clinicians.

    For AI to make a difference, clinicians and patients alike must be able to trust its performance. That’s where our new benchmarks and AI orchestrator come in.

    Medical Case Challenges and Benchmarks

    To practice medicine in the United States, physicians need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a rigorous and standardized assessment of clinical knowledge and decision making. USMLE questions were among the earliest benchmarks used to evaluate AI systems in medicine, offering a structured way to compare model performance – both against each other and against human clinicians.

    In just three years, generative AI has advanced to the point of scoring near-perfect scores on the USMLE and similar exams. But these tests primarily rely on multiple-choice questions, which favor memorization over deep understanding. By reducing medicine to one-shot answers on multiple-choice questions, such benchmarks overstate the apparent competence of AI systems and obscure their limitations.

    At Microsoft AI, we’re working to advance and evaluate clinical reasoning capabilities. To move beyond the limitations of multiple-choice questions, we’ve focused on sequential diagnosis, a cornerstone of real-world medical decision making.  In this process, a clinician begins with an initial patient presentation and then iteratively selects questions and diagnostic tests to arrive at a final diagnosis. For example, a patient presenting with cough and fever may lead the clinician to order and review blood tests and a chest X-ray before they feel confident about diagnosing pneumonia.

    Each week, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – one of the world’s leading medical journals – publishes a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, presenting a patient’s care journey in a detailed, narrative format. These cases are among the most diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding in clinical medicine, often requiring multiple specialists and diagnostic tests to reach a definitive diagnosis.

    How does AI perform? To answer this, we created interactive case challenges drawn from the NEJM case series – what we call the Sequential Diagnosis Benchmark (SD Bench). This benchmark transforms 304 recent NEJM cases into stepwise diagnostic encounters where models – or human physicians – can iteratively ask questions and order tests. As new information becomes available, the model or clinician updates their reasoning, gradually narrowing toward a final diagnosis. This diagnosis can then be compared to the gold-standard outcome published in the NEJM.

    Each requested investigation also incurs a (virtual) cost, reflecting real-world healthcare expenditures. This allows us to evaluate performance across two key dimensions: diagnostic accuracy and resource expenditure.  You can watch how an AI system progresses through one of these challenges in this short video.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Consumer Price Index Manual: Theory, 2025

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    International Monetary Fund, International Labour Office, Statistical Office of the European Communities, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank. Consumer Price Index Manual: Theory, 2025, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2025) accessed June 30, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014137.069

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Senior Military Leaders Praise Destroyer Sailors during Souda Bay Visit

    Source: United States Navy

    SOUND BAY, Greece – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Commander, Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) during a port call in Souda Bay, Greece, June 29. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Laser Focus: DASA and Dstl funding accelerates novel laser detection tech

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Laser Focus: DASA and Dstl funding accelerates novel laser detection tech

    A novel laser detection system developed by Sentinel Photonics has evolved from a promising concept to commercial technology through DASA and Dstl support.

    • Sentinel Photonics was founded in 2019 by former Dstl scientists who developed innovative laser detection technology. The scientists spun out their own company in 2020, licencing the technology from Dstl.
    • Another DASA-funded innovation which protects users’ eyesight from lasers has been adopted on the Army’s KS1 rifles.
    • Sentinel Photonics also secured a DASA Defence Innovation Loan to help grow the size of their team and further develop the technology.
    • The company has grown at a remarkable pace, from one full-time employee to a team of 20, with products being deployed across NATO nations.

    The Innovation Journey

    For military personnel operating in hostile environments, detecting adversaries’ lasers is a vital capability. From artillery targeting systems to drones, sniper range finders and precision strike guided munitions, lasers pose an increasing threat on the modern battlefield.

    This challenge inspired Sean Tipper and Chris Burgess, while working as scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), to develop a new approach to laser detection. Their innovation showed great promise during development at Dstl, where the core technology was conceived and initially tested.

    “We worked on the core technology at Dstl for a number of years, developing the fundamental concepts,” explains Sean Tipper, now Chief Technology Officer at Sentinel Photonics. “We saw the potential for this technology to help protect our forces and founded Sentinel Photonics to take it to the next level of development and productisation.”

    In 2019 the scientists and Ploughshare Innovations founded Sentinel Photonics to commercialise their invention, licencing the IP from Dstl and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The company formally began operations in late 2020 with the critical support of early Dstl funding through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

    A new way of detecting lasers

    Traditional laser warning systems rely on photodiodes that convert light to voltage, looking for rapid temporal changes. They look for quick, sharp changes, similar to how you can notice someone flicking a torch on and off in a dark room.

    While effective for detecting laser pulses, they struggle with continuous wave lasers and can generate false alarms.

    Sentinel’s breakthrough product, LASERD MAX (Laser Signal and Event Recording Device), uses a unique camera-based method that detects the spectral and spatial features of lasers. What sets LASERD MAX apart from conventional systems is its portability and comprehensive coverage. It doesn’t just monitor a narrow field of view but provides complete awareness.

    Sentinel Photonics’ LASERD MAX system in action

    “It’s more of an all-encompassing system,” explains Tipper.  “It’s easy to detect one laser in one direction, but what makes our system unique is the ability to detect many different types of lasers simultaneously in a clustered background, even in challenging daylight conditions.”

    The system can detect everything from drone LIDAR systems and artillery rangefinders to anti-tank guided missiles. It can also spot battlefield scanning systems that use invisible lasers to find hidden optics like sniper scopes.

    “Our system can detect a broad range of laser threats,” says Tipper. “It’s novel because it’s portable and standalone, targeted for dismounted use and also at forward operating bases.”

    The DASA and Dstl Impact

    DASA and Dstl support proved instrumental at multiple points in Sentinel Photonics’ development journey. Their first DASA projects in late 2020 provided critical funding that allowed Tipper to work full-time on developing the technology.

    “Those early DASA projects were really critical because that’s where I experimented with different sensors and camera systems and picked the exact sensors and optics we’re still using today,” says Tipper.

    As Sentinel Photonics progressed with their innovation journey, they reached a critical point where they needed to grow their team to meet increasing demand and develop their technology further.

    In 2022, DASA’s Defence Innovation Loans provided the perfect opportunity to take this next step.

    The loan helped transform the organisation from a founder-led startup into a growing enterprise with the capabilities to deliver advanced defence technology.

    “Without the Defence Innovation Loan, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver for Dstl, and we wouldn’t have had the resources to increase the size of our team,” Tipper notes.

    Commercial Success

    Sentinel Photonics’ progress has been remarkable. From just one person working part-time in 2020, the company has grown to 20 people by 2025. Their product line has expanded to include not just the LASERD MAX detection system but also products such as FROST (Filters for Reduction of Optical Signature Thresholds).

    The FROST system, also developed with DASA funding and Dstl technical support, protects eyes from laser damage and prevents detection by scanning systems. This technology has achieved significant commercial success and has been integrated into the KS1 rifles that have entered service with UK Armed Forces through a partnership with Edgar Brothers, Sentinels UK partner, as part of the Hunter programme.

    Sentinel Photonics’ FROST system installed on a KS1 scope

    The company has also expanded its reach beyond the UK. “We’re expanding across Europe and NATO nations in general, finding partners to bring our products into those markets,” says Tipper. “There’s a direct link from DASA-funded work to us making sales and getting partners into markets.”

    The SME has now established strategic collaborations with Glomex in Poland, TBM in the Netherlands, StarC4SIS in Romania and Precision Technic Defence Group in Denmark to add to its already established partnerships with Danger Solutions in Australia and Outervision in France.

    The Collaborative Ecosystem

    Sentinel’s story highlights the powerful collaboration between Dstl, DASA, and innovative small businesses. Dstl provided the foundation for the core technology and continues to work with Sentinel Photonics by providing technical support. DASA helped bridge the critical gap between concept and the commercially viable product.

    For Sentinel, DASA’s involvement has offered more than just funding. “DASA has been a very useful mechanism to test ideas and feasibility within defence,” explains Tipper. “It gives us a way to understand how important what we’re developing is to potential users and get early sight of that as well.”

    Looking ahead, Sentinel aims to shift from an R&D focused in its early years to a balanced commercial approach to increase their foothold in defence.

    As threats continue to evolve on the modern battlefield, innovations like Sentinel’s laser detection systems and FROST system can play an increasingly vital role in protecting UK and coalition forces. Their journey from laboratory concept to battlefield protection demonstrates the importance of supporting promising defence technologies through the challenging path of commercialisation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New cargo air route links Xinjiang and Tbilisi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — A cargo flight from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, landed at Laining International Airport in Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Saturday, marking the launch of a new cargo air route between the two regions, the prefecture’s press service said.

    The cargo carried on the aircraft, including chilled salmon from Norway, live jumbo land crabs from France and cherries from Tajikistan, was delivered to the integrated import inspection facility upon arrival at the airport. It is the first shipment of fruits and edible aquatic organisms to be brought to the facility since it was granted import approval in 2024.

    It should be noted that to ensure the quality of these food products on the charter flight, a cold chain and advanced freshness preservation technologies were used.

    It should be recalled that Laining International Airport is the second largest air checkpoint in Xinjiang and one of the important hub airports of the Belt and Road Initiative. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SCO countries seek to jointly expand a new space for cooperation through the development of the digital economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    TIANJIN, June 30 (Xinhua) — The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum, themed “New Links in the Digital Economy, Jointly Expanding New Cooperation Space,” will be held in Tianjin, north China, from July 10 to 11, a press conference in the city said Monday.

    The event is aimed at further expanding the new space for the development of the SCO so that the peoples of the SCO region can enjoy the dividends from the development of the digital economy, it was noted at the press conference.

    It will bring together more than 600 Chinese and foreign guests from various circles to discuss issues such as data circulation and transactions, digital transformation of industry, digital infrastructure construction, application of artificial intelligence, smart cities, and training of digital talent.

    According to Zhai Lixin, Deputy Mayor of Tianjin, the forum will bring together politicians, university rectors, and heads of think tanks, enterprises and cities to conduct in-depth exchanges on issues such as the integration of the digital economy and the real economy, educational innovation and the cultivation of transnational talents for the digital economy, data management and joint construction of the ecosystem, innovative development of digital infrastructure and open cooperation.

    “We will deepen the alignment of development strategies of SCO member states, strengthen mutual trust in the field of data, promote the building of closer partnerships and jointly expand new growth points in the digital economy,” said Yu Ying, deputy director of the State Data Administration of the People’s Republic of China.

    As previously reported, the event will be organized by the State Data Administration of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Tianjin.

    Let us recall that the next SCO summit will be held in Tianjin this autumn. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Grigory Kulishenko defended the Chinese people at the cost of his life and will forever remain in the memory of future generations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    CHONGQING, June 30 (Xinhua) — Wei Yingxiang, a native of Wanzhou in southwest China’s Chongqing City, never imagined that his life would be linked to a Soviet pilot he had never met. The pilot’s name was Grigory Akimovich Kulishenko.

    Grigory Akimovich Kulishenko, born in 1903, became a squadron commander of bombers in the Soviet Air Force, and in 1939, together with his comrades, was sent by the Soviet government to China with two groups of bombers to help the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

    In October 1939, G. A. Kulishenko, leading a bomber group of the volunteer air forces for aid to China, carried out a raid on the Japanese airfield in Hankou and inflicted serious damage on the Japanese army.

    On the way back, G. A. Kulishenko’s plane was intercepted by the enemy and one of the engines was shot down, as a result of which he was wounded in the chest and left shoulder. When he took off over Wanxian County (now Wanzhou District, Chongqing City), the plane lost its balance, and in order to protect the plane and people on the ground, the commander refused the parachute and made an emergency landing on the surface of the Yangtze River in the Chenjiaba District of Wanxian County.

    Two of his comrades swam to the shore, but the wounded Kulishenko was carried away by the current and died a heroic death at the age of 36.

    Local residents found the pilot’s body 20 days later. They held a memorial service and funeral in his honor.

    “I experience the misfortune of the Chinese people as if I were experiencing the misfortune of my homeland. It is very hard for me to see how the Japanese indiscriminately bomb Chinese soil,” G. Kulishenko said with feeling during his lifetime.

    The Chinese people have not forgotten this hero.

    In 1958, the Wanxian County People’s Government built a special cemetery for G. Kulishenko. That year, Wei Yingxiang was 4 years old. He thought that this hero must be great.

    Wei Yingxiang’s grandfather lived by the Yangtze River and volunteered to search for G. A. Kulishenko’s remains along the river along with many other people. His grandfather told him that G. A. Kulishenko died defending the Chinese people.

    That year, Wei Yingxiang’s mother, Tan Zhonghui, took on the duties of guardian of G.A. Kulishenko’s grave. At the age of 31, Tan Zhonghui was engaged in landscaping in Xishan Park. Due to her respect for G.A. Kulishenko, she volunteered to guard the grave, clean the cemetery, wipe the tombstone, pull out weeds, trim branches and leaves, regardless of the weather.

    In 1977, before retiring, Wei Yingxiang’s mother wanted to entrust her son with guarding the grave. Young Wei Yongxiang thought that working at the cemetery was boring and monotonous. But his mother insisted that he should be persistent even in monotonous tasks: “This hero’s home is far from Chongqing, and he has no relatives here, so we should accompany him and not let him feel lonely.”

    Since then, guarding the grave of Grigory Kulishenko became the most honorable thing in Wei Yingxiang’s life. There were organizations and enterprises that offered him a high salary, but Wei Yingxiang rejected the offers one after another.

    After retiring in 2014, he still visits the cemetery every day, as if visiting an old friend. “I always worry and worry about him,” Wei Yingxiang said, adding that his mother also influenced him. After her retirement, she would go to the cemetery every morning to check if everything was in order, so that her heart would be at peace. In 2018, Tan Zhonghui died at the age of 91. Before her death, she still remembered Grigory Kulishenko’s grave and asked her son to protect it.

    For decades, under the care of this mother and son, the G. A. Kulishenko cemetery has served as an example of the gratitude of the Chinese people, and the exploits of the heroes have been passed down from generation to generation.

    Around the tombstone of G. Kulishenko grow tall trees planted by Tan Zhonghui, Wei Yingxiang’s mother. He said that he would guard this grave during his lifetime, because for him “this is not only a responsibility and deep gratitude, but also the conscience of the Chinese people.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dance battle between teams from China and Russia took place in Heihe

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HEIHE, June 30 (Xinhua) — The Purple Night Dance Festival opened in Heihe, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, marking the start of a series of weekly competitions. Many dancers from China and Russia gathered in Heihe to dance and make friends, kicking off a month-long summer festival of dance and cultural exchanges.

    The opening ceremony of the competition took place on Saturday evening on a stage set up at Century Square on the Heilongjiang /Amur/ River embankment.

    The dance duel features creative groups from China and Russia, who practice completely different types of dance – from graceful classics and mesmerizing folklore to bold street rhythms. The competition was held in several stages: a carefully prepared dance number; improvisation with a folk group from China; improvisation with an object among Russian groups. The competition will last throughout July and end on August 3.

    The competition will also include inspiring dance master classes and summer discos under the starry sky. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Bohemian Regional Division to be established within the CNB’s Cash and Payments Department

    Source: Czech National Bank

    The Czech National Bank (CNB) is continuing to implement changes in the Cash and Payments Department, aimed at significantly speeding up and simplifying client services. With effect from 1 July 2025, a new Bohemian Regional Division will be established, headed by the current Director of the CNB’s Prague branch Vladislav Jetenský. The Bank Board made this decision at its meeting on 20 March 2025.

    The Bohemian Regional Division will be created through the merger of the Prague and Hradec Králové branches as part of the CNB’s broader strategy for service digitalisation. The aim is to simplify and speed up communication with clients, regardless of their location. Digitalisation will enable faster processing of requests and more convenient access to the CNB’s services.

    Vladislav Jetenský graduated in finance from the Prague University of Economics and Business. He worked at the CNB as banking supervision inspector in 2001–2003 and then in ING as senior auditor, head of internal audit for the Czech Republic and Slovakia and head of the financial controlling team. He returned to the CNB in 2017 and held the post of Director of the Capital Market Supervision and Control Division of the Financial Market Supervision Department II. He served as Executive Director of the Internal Audit Department from 2021 to 2024. He has been Director of the Prague branch of the Cash and Payments Department since June 2024.

    Jakub Holas
    Director, CNB Communications Division

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple Music celebrates 10 years with the launch of a new global hub for artists

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple Music celebrates 10 years with the launch of a new global hub for artists

    June 30, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple Music celebrates 10 years with the launch of a new global hub for artists designed to foster creativity and connection

    Tune in to Apple Music Radio for a broadcast celebration with hosts Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and special guests as they reminisce about their favorite moments from the past 10 years while looking toward the future

    CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year, Apple unveils its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the-art studio space in Los Angeles dedicated to artist-driven content, innovation in audio, and deeper fan connection.

    Opening this summer, the new studio represents a major milestone in Apple’s continued mission to support artists at every level by giving them the tools, platform, and creative freedom to tell their stories in entirely new ways. More than just a studio in the traditional sense, the new space is a creative campus that reflects a decade of Apple Music’s commitment to high-quality sound, authentic storytelling, and artist-first experiences.

    “Apple Music Radio has always been a home for storytelling and artistry, serving as a space for bold conversations and surprising moments,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head. “With this new studio, we are furthering our commitment to creating a space for artists to create, connect, and share their vision.”

    A Creative Ecosystem Built for Artists

    Designed with artists in mind, Apple Music’s new studio space in Los Angeles is a three-story, over-15,000-square-foot facility that includes:

    • Two advanced radio studios with immersive Spatial Audio playback and adaptable setups for live interviews, casual chats, or impromptu performances.
    • A 4,000-square-foot soundstage for live performances, multicam shoots, fan events, and screenings.
    • A dedicated Spatial Audio mixing room outfitted with a 9.2.4 PMC speaker system for next-level sound production.
    • A photo and social media lab, edit room, and green room to support real-time content creation.
    • Private isolation booths for songwriting, podcasting, and one-on-one interviews.
    • The A-List Corridor and Archive Corridor, showcasing images and artwork of unforgettable moments from Apple Music’s past and present.

    Global Vision, Local Roots

    Apple Music’s new Los Angeles studio will anchor a global network of creative hubs already active in places including New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, and Nashville, with additional studios coming soon. With this launch, the service continues to innovate, not just in how music is streamed, but also in how it’s made, experienced, and shared. From radio to live performance, to fan engagement and content creation, this new studio will serve as a creative home for the next decade of music.

    The Power of Apple Music Radio

    Since its inception, Apple Music Radio has been a defining feature of the service, a place where fans and artists meet in real time. From global premieres and intimate interviews, to in-depth specials and surprise performances, Apple Music Radio has distinguished itself through expertly curated, artist-led storytelling that makes listeners feel closer to the music they love. Apple Music Radio streams 24/7 and is available for free around the world.

    “When we first launched Beats 1 it was a leap of faith, the first live global radio station for a digital world,” said Zane Lowe. “We knew we wanted to build something special where artists could come and tell their stories and fans could feel connected. Ten years on, Apple Music Radio is everything we hoped it would be. It’s a place where we can eventize music, a place where music comes first, always. I’m just as excited for what’s to come as I was on day one.”

    To celebrate the 10-year milestone, Apple Music Radio will feature a week of specials and live programming, kicking off with “Don’t Be Boring: The Birth of Apple Music Radio with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden” on June 30, from 6 to 8 a.m. PST. From the early days of launching radio on streaming, to the epic artist-led shows that defined a new era, Zane, Ebro, and special guests will reminisce about the last 10 years of Apple Music Radio. Then, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, listeners can tune in to the “10 Years of Apple Music” special. This eight-hour broadcast event on Apple Music 1 will tell the stories of the greatest artist moments, exclusive releases, live events, and cultural milestones that only Apple could deliver. The day will culminate with “Live: 10 Years Of Apple Music” from 4 to 7 p.m. PST. The live broadcast, hosted by Zane and Ebro, celebrates a decade of Apple Music with a lineup of artists who have shaped the trajectory of the service. Listeners can tune in at apple.co/_Radio.

    Additionally, Apple Music Radio will unveil the service’s top 500 most-streamed songs from the last 10 years in a special countdown beginning on Tuesday, July 1. Tune in to count down 100 songs a day, culminating with Apple Music’s top 100 most-streamed songs of all time on July 5, when the full 10 Years of Apple Music: Top Songs playlist will be available to stream.

    Apple Music is also launching Replay All Time, a special version of the annual Replay experience that allows listeners to see and stream the songs they’ve played the most since joining Apple Music. With Replay All Time, subscribers can stream this Replay playlist from the Home tab in Apple Music.

    About Apple Music Apple loves music. Apple revolutionized the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, the award-winning Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalog of over 100 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-synced lyrics, lossless audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world’s best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favorites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in over 167 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music. About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    Press Contacts

    Jessica Bass

    Apple

    jessica_bass@apple.com

    Cat Franich

    Apple

    cfranich@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Godiva Festival announces extra stage for local talent thanks to Arts Council funding

    Source: City of Coventry

    A third stage has been announced for next week’s Godiva Festival that will see young local musicians given the chance to perform in their home city.

    The Cov ConneX Kingston Stage – first introduced at last year’s festival – will return, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, with a grant worth almost £30,000. 

    It will shine a light on musical inspiration while celebrating Coventry’s twin city of Kingston in Jamaica, with around 40 city-based artists taking to the stage over the Saturday and Sunday in styles ranging from rap, grime, afrobeat and reggae to DJs and MCs.

    It will join the Main Stage and The Cov Stage in hosting a massive array of musical talent and giving festivalgoers a packed weekend of entertainment.

    The Festival runs from 4-6 July at the city’s War Memorial Park, and tickets are still available at great prices.
     

    Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and Cabinet Member for Events, said: “Godiva was already going to be an amazing festival, but the announcement of a third stage dedicated to young local musicians has added something extra special and I know it will be a big attraction for all music lovers.

    “Thank you to Arts Council England for helping us to give artists from Coventry the incredible chance of performing on stage at a top festival in their home city – and to celebrate the incredible musical culture of our twin city of Kingston.

    “With prices frozen from last year, the Godiva Festival is a great value-for-money event for everyone in Coventry, and I can’t wait to enjoy the atmosphere when it all starts in just over a week’s time.”

    Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities added: “Coventry is a great musical city that has produced some famous names, and what better place than Godiva to give our stars of the future a helping hand as they start their careers in the creative sector.

    “We are delighted to welcome back the Cov Connex Kingston Stage and to be working with city organisations such as Fyah Camp, ODE and Positive Youth Foundation to give performance opportunities to some of our talented young people.

    “Godiva is loved by so many, and with the music stages supported by a host of other attractions for families and visitors of all ages, it’s going to be another memorable weekend for the city.”

    This year’s line-up will see Marc Almond, best known as the vocalist for Soft Cell, headlining the Main Stage on Friday. He will be joined by synth-pop band, Heaven 17, plus soul singer and lead vocalist of the band M People, Heather Small.

    Multi award winning band, Clean Bandit, will be headlining the Main Stage on Saturday, supported by acts including DJ, Nathan Dawe, hip hop duo, Young T & Bugsey, and the Panjabi Hit Squad who will be bringing hip hop, Bollywood and bhangra anthems.

    Coventry musical legend and one of the founders of The Specials, Neville Staple, will also be taking to the Main Stage on Saturday 5 July.

    Completing the headline acts is Ocean Colour Scene who will bring the festival to a close on Sunday (6 July) evening, along with Rick Parfitt Jr & The RPJ Band and YolanDa Brown: Bob Marley Songbook, and dance group Diversity.

    The Cov Stage will serve as the secondary stage in the music field at this year’s event, hosting local talent and other acts, and the Family Field will be filled with live entertainment and interactive activities designed to offer a memorable experience for families.

    Standard day tickets are available from just £15 and standard weekend tickets from £49.50. Get yours now! To buy tickets or find out more, head to the Godiva Festival website. 

    Godiva Festival is proudly delivered by Coventry City Council. BBC CWR is the official media partner. Music Smart sponsors the Godiva Calling competition, and Coventry College sponsors the Family Field. The Cov ConneX Kingston Stage is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. refining capacity largely unchanged as of January 2025

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    June 30, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Refinery Capacity Report
    Note: Data reflect refinery capacity as of January 1 of the indicated year.

    According to our latest annual Refinery Capacity Report, U.S. operable atmospheric distillation capacity, the primary measure of refinery capacity, totaled 18.4 million barrels per calendar day (b/cd) on January 1, 2025—essentially flat compared with last year.

    We publish two measures of refinery capacity in the report: barrels per calendar day and barrels per stream day. Calendar day capacity represents the operator’s estimate of the input volume that a distillation unit can process in a 24-hour period under usual operating conditions, factoring in both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The calendar day capacity reported by companies may differ slightly from other published figures because of differences in estimation methods.

    Stream day capacity reflects the maximum input that a distillation facility can process within a 24-hour period when running at full capacity with an optimal crude oil and product slate and with no allowance for downtime. Stream day capacity is typically about 6% higher than calendar day capacity.

    In 2025, the three largest refiners in the United States—Marathon, Valero, and ExxonMobil—all reported calendar day capacity increases of less than 1% compared with 2024. These changes likely stem from small-scale process improvements, rather than major capacity expansions, unlike previous years. No major refinery expansions or transactions occurred from January 2024 through January 2025, unlike in 2023 when a handful of major projects were completed, including a significant expansion at ExxonMobil’s Beaumont, Texas, facility.

    Motiva’s Port Arthur refinery reported increased calendar day throughput, regaining its position as the largest single U.S. refinery on a barrels-per-calendar-day basis. However, the facility’s stream day capacity remained unchanged compared with 2024. On a barrels-per-stream-day basis, Marathon’s Galveston Bay refinery remains the largest in the United States, at 665,000 barrels per stream day.

    LyondellBasell ended refining operations at its 263,776-b/cd refinery in Houston in March 2025, but the report does not reflect this change because the facility was still operational on January 1.

    This year’s Refinery Capacity Report includes 132 operable refineries, the same as in 2024. The count does not include the Philipps 66 Rodeo refinery, which converted to renewable diesel production last year and has potential to produce sustainable aviation fuel as well.

    Our report also added Pasadena Performance Products, a new facility near Houston, Texas. Owned by Next Wave Energy Partners, the facility exclusively produces alkylate, a valuable blending component for motor gasoline. The facility uses natural gas liquids to produce alkylate instead of refining crude oil and hasn’t reported traditional refinery units such as a crude oil distillation column.

    The 2025 Refinery Capacity Report captures U.S. refining capacity changes in effect as of January 1, 2025.

    Principal contributors: Kevin Hack, Carolyn Hronis

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield supporting Whitehaven Science Fair

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Sellafield supporting Whitehaven Science Fair

    Local science fair in Whitehaven, West Cumbria goes from strength to strength.

    We were pleased to support Whitehaven Town Council in hosting the 5th Annual Whitehaven Science Fair, working in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services to plan and deliver a two-day programme focused on innovation, scientific curiosity and community engagement.

    The first day welcomed primary school pupils to experience an engaging theatre-style science demonstration, followed by interactive exhibits located in the robotics and technology marquees.

    Local employers, including ourselves and Nuclear Waste Services, presented a range of technologies and provided hands-on activities. These included opportunities to operate robots, participate in educational games, test coordination skills, and meet Spot-the-dog.

    By offering such experiences, the event helps inspire an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among young people and encourages them to consider future careers in these areas.

    Members of the public also attended throughout the day to learn more about current developments on the Sellafield site and the work of organisations contributing to innovation in the local area.

    Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria, Gerard Richardson,  said:

    I couldn’t be more delighted with the turnout, not just from schools and pupils but also from curious members of the public who really enjoyed the experience.

    What a great event this has developed into, and we are so proud of the partnership that has grown with Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Waste Services, 3d360, Atkins and a host of other companies.

    The second day focused on career development, with Year 9 pupils from local secondary schools attending a careers fair. A range of local businesses were present to share information on early career pathways and work experience opportunities.

    Carol Parkinson, education outreach manager at Sellafield Ltd, said:

    It was a fantastic chance to engage directly with young people and highlight the career options available to them within the local area.

    We offer a wide variety of early careers programmes, and it is important that students are made aware of these at an early stage. It was also encouraging to see the breadth of opportunities presented by other local employers.

    Work Experience | Graduates, Placements & Apprenticeships | Sellafield Ltd Careers

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Digital ruble today and tomorrow: Bank of Russia report on piloting

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    Citizens and companies participating in the pilot from more than 150 localities in Russia opened about 2.5 thousand wallets on the digital ruble platform and carried out about 100 thousand transactions. The regulator publishes the interim results of the pilot and plans for the development of the new form of national currency inreport “Digital Ruble: Current Status of the Project”.

    In addition to testing simple operations, the pilot participants focused on the convenience of the customer journey, as well as security issues, including protection from cyberattacks and ensuring data privacy. Preliminary results showed the platform’s functionality and sustainability.

    The document notes that the Bank of Russia is currently conducting additional discussions of the economic model of the digital ruble with banks participating in the project, as well as government agencies. In particular, the most popular scenarios for the implementation of smart contracts are being developed, which will make it possible to use the innovative potential of the new form of the ruble to improve the economic efficiency of processes, including budgetary ones.

    In the future, it is planned to expand the platform’s functionality: launch payments in online commerce, connect individual entrepreneurs to the platform, make payments according to registers for mass and regular transactions, and so on.

    Preview photo: Liudmila Puchinskaia / Shutterstock / Fotodom

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV.KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 24741

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Admission priorities: how to choose and how to arrange

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    In 2025, the system of admission by priorities for admission to bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s degree programs will continue to operate. We tell you how it works and how to rank them correctly.

    What are priorities?

    Admission priorities are the ordinal numbers that applicants use to rank their chosen educational programs in their application. One means the highest priority: the applicant wants to get into the corresponding educational program the most. The higher the priority value of a program, the less desirable it is for the applicant.

    “Applicants set priorities within one university at the time of application. Remember that all HSE campuses are considered one university, so priorities for them are indicated cross-cuttingly. If any changes have occurred and the applicant wants to change the priority of the programs they have chosen, this can be done during the entire period of accepting documents. In the case of admission to a budget-funded bachelor’s and specialist’s degree, there is time until July 25, and for a master’s degree – until August 8. Please note that the deadlines for accepting documents for fee-paying places depend on the program,” commented Alexander Chepovsky, Director of Strategic Work with Applicants.

    What are the limitations when choosing programs?

    Applicants to the HSE bachelor’s and specialist’s programs this year can choose up to five areas of training/specialization and an unlimited number of programs in each. It is important to note that the areas by campus are counted in total.

    An example of prioritization of 13 educational programs when choosing five areas of training

    Starting this year, Master’s degree applicants can choose any number of educational programs.

    Are there any special requirements for admission under the target quota?

    In accordance with federal legislation, applicants must separately indicate the priority of the target quota. For other admission conditions, the priority of other places is indicated.

    If the priority of the target quota is higher, then the applicant is considered first in the competition for targeted training.

    How to determine the priority for enrollment

    After the application period is over, all universities publish competitive lists, which determine the highest priorities for each applicant.

    The main highest priority is calculated regardless of whether applicants have consents to enrollment. It shows which program an applicant will be enrolled in if all other applicants in all priorities submit consents to enrollment.

    Highest Passing Priority — the highest enrollment priority an applicant has in the competition, taking into account the consents submitted for enrollment at the time the competition lists are created. This indicator will be updated, showing an increasingly accurate picture as other applicants submit consents and the end of their admission approaches.

    How is enrollment on a budget in bachelor’s and specialist’s degrees organized?

    Those applicants who submit their consent for admission to the university within the established deadlines will be enrolled with the highest passing priority if they pass the competition. Please note that consents for admission are accepted until 12:00 Moscow time on the corresponding day. In the bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs, the deadline for the priority stage (applicants without entrance examinations and by quotas) is August 1, for the main stage (applicants based on the results of entrance examinations) – August 5. At the time of enrollment, the consent must remain at the university (not be revoked).

    On August 2–3, applicants will be enrolled in the priority stage. If the applicant’s highest passing priority is the target quota priority, he/she will first participate in the competition for target places. The same happens if, for all other programs, the applicant only participates in the general competition (i.e., not in the priority stage). In this case, to be enrolled, it is necessary to pass the competition not only for the total number of allocated target places, but also for the number of places specified by the customer in the relevant offer for targeted training.

    If the applicant’s highest passing priority is the priority of other places, then he is enrolled in the main budget places without entrance examinations. If the applicant did not have such a condition for admission (or he did not pass the competition), then he is enrolled under a separate quota. Accordingly, if the applicant did not participate in this competition (or did not pass it), then he is enrolled under a special quota.

    “Please note that those admitted at the priority stage are excluded from further competition for the main budget places in the same educational program. If an applicant expresses a desire to participate in the general competition, he/she can refuse admission by writing an application before 12:00 Moscow time on August 5,” added Alexander Chepovsky.

    On August 6–7, information on those admitted in the main stage will be published in accordance with the priorities of other places. First of all, the applicant will participate in the competition for the program with the highest position in his personal ranking list. In case of failure to enter the budget for this program, he will participate in the competition for the second program, and so on.

    How budget enrollment in a master’s program works

    Admission to master’s programs is carried out in one stage. Applicants who submit consent to enrollment in the university before 12:00 Moscow time on August 24 and pass the competition will be enrolled according to the highest passing priority. An important condition is also the fact that consent must not be revoked at the time of enrollment.

    If the applicant’s highest passing priority is the priority of the target quota, then he/she first participates in the competition for target places. We remind you that the competition is for both the total number of allocated target places and the number of places specified by the customer in the relevant proposal for targeted training. If the highest passing priority is the priority of other places, the applicant participates in the competition for the main budget places in the order of priority of the selected programs.

    How does enrollment for fee-paying places work?

    Applications for fee-paying places are submitted separately from budget places, so programs are also ranked separately. When enrolling in such places, the key factors are the presence of a concluded education agreement and payment for the first half of the year. The payment receipt must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account or sent by e-mail Treaty@mse.ru – this determines whether the applicant has consented to enrollment in fee-paying places in the relevant program.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Welcomes DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement as Milestone Toward Lasting Stability

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva/Nairobi, 30 June 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomes the signing of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, brokered by the United States, the African Union, and the State of Qatar. The agreement represents a critical step toward ending decades of violence and displacement in the region and comes at a symbolic moment as the DRC marks 65 years of independence.

    “This agreement offers a rare and vital opportunity to chart a new course for peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “But peace must be felt on the ground. It must mean safety for families who have fled their homes, support for communities that have opened their doors to the displaced, and a future for young people who have known nothing but conflict. We call on the international community to seize this moment not just to support the political process, but to invest in the humanitarian and recovery efforts that will make peace real for millions of people.”

    Across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, millions continue to bear the brunt of one of the world’s most persistent and complex crises. In the eastern provinces alone, more than 700,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2024, forced to flee their homes as violence intensifies. Families have been uprooted multiple times, often with little more than what they can carry, seeking safety in overcrowded shelters, informal sites, or host communities that are already under strain.

    IOM teams have been delivering lifesaving assistance across the country, providing emergency shelter, health care, protection services, and mental health and psychosocial support to those most affected by the violence. Support is also being extended to host communities, many of whom are facing immense pressure as they take in those who have been forced to flee.

    While the peace agreement marks a hopeful turning point, the road to lasting stability will be long and complex. Years of conflict have left deep scars and humanitarian needs remain staggering. The peace agreement must now be matched by meaningful action on the ground.

    IOM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Organization stands ready to work alongside national authorities, regional bodies, and international partners to ensure that this agreement translates into real and lasting progress, restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and helping communities recover from the impacts of violence and displacement.

    For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –